The Gaul (2001)
"Vercingétorix" (original title)

An entire nation's destiny lies in the hands of one man.

Director:

Jacques Dorfmann

Writers:

Jacques Dorfmann (screenplay), Jacques Dorfmann (story),

Stars:

Christopher Lambert, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Max von Sydow

1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Christopher Lambert	...	Vercingétorix (as Christophe Lambert)
Klaus Maria Brandauer	...	Julius Caesar
Max von Sydow	...	Guttuart
Inés Sastre	...	Epona
Denis Charvet	...	Cassivelaun
Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu	...	Dumnorix
Maria Kavardjikova	...	Rhia
Yannis Baraban	...	Litavic
Vincent Moscato	...	Moscatos
Jean-Pierre Rives	...	Teuton Chief
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Youri Angelov
Atanass Atanassov
Jean Pierre Bergeron	...	Diviciac (as J.P. Berger)
Patrice Bissonnette
Stefan Danailov

Storyline

Young Vercingetorix came of age in 60 B.C., as soldiers of the Roman Empire ran roughshod over Gaul and his father was captured and executed by Romans. A wise and philosophical druid, Guttuart, tells the angry Vercingetorix that he should seek justice by winning freedom for Gaul from the Romans. As an adult, Vercingetorix becomes a brave and insightful warrior, and at first joins forces with the charismatic Julius Caesar. But in time Vercingetorix is betrayed by the great leader, and soon he raises an army of his own to defeat Caesar and bring Guttuart's prophesy to life.

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Plot Keywords:

gaul | empire | warrior | destiny | julius caesar | 

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Taglines:

Han svor hævn, og fik et helt folk med sig[Denmark]

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Genres:

Adventure | Biography | Drama | History | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and nudity

Details

Country:

France Canada Belgium

Language:

French English

Release Date:

24 January 2001 (France)

Also Known As:

Druids

Filming Locations:

Bulgaria

Box Office

Gross:

ESP 156,110,787 (Spain) (29 June 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC), Eiffel Productions, La Mutualité Française

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed both in English and French language

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Goofs

When Vercingetorix rides up on his horse to kill the man sitting on the throne, he is holding a large spear in his right hand. The camera changes to an outside view looking inside (with the villagers watching). However, the spear is now in his left hand (you have to look closely through the crowd). The scene cuts back inside and once again he has the spear in his right hand.

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Quotes

Vercingetorix: I come to offer you the glory of your victory, which Rome will forever honor with inscriptions in stone and eternal flames.
Julius Ceasar: The light of my victory will make my invisible past failures heavier.

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Soundtracks

"Le rêve d'un homme"
Performed by Sonia Lacen

User Reviews

Relentlessly Bad

Now I'm a great fan of historical epics, and I am willing to forgive a lot of historical inaccuracies in the name of cinematic expediency, especially with regard to a Celtic hero like Vercingetorix. However, as with all truly bad films, this film really can't decide what it wants to be. It makes a game attempt at historical accuracy (at least history according to Ceasar which is all we have to go on) by portraying Vercingetorix as someone who is willing to deal with the enemy then betray them, and there are some scenes such as the breast-baring women distracting the Romans which have a basis in writings of the time. OK - I'd be willing to forgive the historically inaccurate (and very un-scary) German connection until... ...we see Vercingetorix chatting with busty druidesses and gaining a magic sword and magic powers which he proceeds to twirl around faster than is humanly possible. Err, OK - so it wants to be a fantasy film. In which case why set it in a real historical time period with so many real events to build off - just go all out like Conan and be done with it. I mean - if he has magical power he should win at the end right?

The film proceeds to both destroy history and ruin one's enjoyment of all fantasy films with ruthless efficiency. So thats the screenplay written off, but perhaps it can be saved by some good performances?

Lambert. Never before has there been an actor made entirely of wood. Does this man have more than one facial expression carved on his trunk? Ceasar was passable, but lets face it, if he wants to make a name for himself by playing famous Romans he is in for a long wait for that phone call. The rest of the cast act like, and probably are, extras. Good for them for getting some face time I say.

OK - so the screenplay and acting are garbage. Perhaps the action and/or special effects can save the film. Err. No. Sorry. Joan of Arc and Gladiator-style battle scenes this does not have. I'm willing to even cut it some slack for its obviously low budget, but even taking that into account its a non-starter.

When you truly feel you could have made a better film with claymation figures and a shoebox camera then something is very very wrong indeed. However that is not the end of it. The awful, choppy editing and lack of timing and pacing combined with everything else makes for a truly painful viewing experience, one of the worst in my living memory. It is this which turns a merely bland and boring film into a bottom-100 dweller.

If the real Vercingetorix saw this he'd fall on his sword. Nul points as they say at Eurovision.